Dispenser for rolled toilet tissue



1965 E. L. SCHWARTZ DISPENSER FOR ROLLED TOILET TISSUE Filed Oct. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. EVAN L. SCHWART Z ATTORNEY tan United States Patent 3,168,258 DISIENSER FOR ROLLED TOILET TISSUE Evan L. Schwartz, 5426 N. Spahn, Lakewood, Calif. Filed Get. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 228,582 7 Claims. (Ci. 242-5542) has been exhausted, to the end that the user is assured a readily available supply of tissue at all times.

Various dispensers of the character described have been proposed in the past which are either of the vertical or horizontal feed type, and all are designed to take a nonstandard sized roll (less than the 4 /2 standard) which imposes a requirement to procure the tissue supply from limited sources at greater cost.

Further, in the case or" the vertical feed dispenser wherein a supply tube is supported at the top end thereof only, a complicated locking device is required which operates in conjunction with a special metal ring insert in the paper core of each roll of tissue to prevent pilfering. Additionally, a spring-pressed finger is required for engagement at all times whereby the roll of tissue is dispensed in a manner to prevent unwarranted winding of the roll with attendant waste, all of which greatly increases the cost of the dispenser and the tissue roll. Also with this arrangement, the dispensing roll must first be removed, the extra roll inserted and the former returned to its original position to service the dispenser. Known variations of this type of dispenser require pin inserts for the non-standard rolls and possess similar disadvantages.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a dispenser of the type described which overcomes the enumerated disadvantages of the prior art devices, which will use tissue rolls from any source, either standard or non-standard, is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, is simple to operate and service, and reduces to a minimum the effort on the part of the user in positioning the extra rolls for use after the starting roll is exhausted.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out as the description proceeds, and a more comprehensive understanding of it will be atforded from the following detailed specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the instant invention;

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the same taken respectively along the lines 22 of FIG- URE 1, 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail view of a paper roll core severing device employed in the dispenser.

With reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, there is illustrated in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a toilet tissue dispenser comprising a stamped metal housing 11 having back, front and side walls 12, 13, 14 and 15, respectively, as best seen in FIGURE 3, the upper extremities of which form a protective compartment 16 for the storage of an extra roll of tissue 17, and the lower extremities of which form an open-faced compartment 20 for the storage of a starting roll 21.

Formed as a part of the housing 11 is a floor or bottom 18 therefor on which is rigidly supported a core tube 19 positioned to receive the extra roll of tissue 17 and the starting roll 21. An attaching member 22 is employed to rigidly fix the tube 19 to the bottom 18 of the housing 11, and is so formed as to present a reduced support wins Patented Feb. 2, 1965 ing surface 23 for frictional engagement with the bottom of the core and tissue of the roll being dispensed. In this manner the roll is supported above the bottom of the housing on a reduced surface area which permits easy rotation of the roll as the tissue is unwound therefrom, yet provides enough frictional area to prevent unwarranted unwinding and waste of the tissue.

Access to the upper compartment 16 is provided by means of a cover or lid 24, which is hinged to the housing 11 by rivet pins 25 and 26, or other hinge means. A depression 27 (FIGURE 2) is formed in the lid 24 which is so dimensioned that it will extend into an open end 28 of the tube 19 and hold the latter firmly against lateral movement when the lid is in its closed and locked position. Contrarywise, when the lid is in its open position, the end 28 of the tube 19 is unobstructed to receive rolls of tissue when the dispenser is being serviced. By means of this expedient the tube 1? is given essentially the same rigidity during operation as if it were attached to the housing 11 at both ends.

The dispenser is so constructed as to prevent the pilfering of the tissue rolls and the theft of the dispenser itself. Such protection is afforded by means of a lock 29 mounted on the under surface of the lid 24 in such a manner as to have a spring-driven bolt 31 thereof pass into a receiving slot 32 cut in the tube 19 to lock the lid in its closed position with a snap action. A key-receiving member 33 of the lock 29 extends through the lid 24 for external access.

Hidden screw holes 34 are opened near the top of the back wall 12 of the housing 11 and are so arranged as to make the heads of the screws which are passed therethrough for mounting purposes, accessible only when the lid 24 is in it's unlocked, open position. Additionally, two slotted screw holes 35 are provided which receive screws driven into the surface on which the dispenser is mounted prior to its attachment by means of screws 30 passed through the holes 34. The slotted holes 35 are so positioned as to make the heads of the screws used with them inaccessible in any manner once the dispenser is attached to its surface mounting. Thus, it is firmly secured to its mounting by four screws which are inaccessible so long as the lid 24 is locked, which additional feature provides positive protection against theft of the dispenser. To lend further rigidity to the mounting of the dispenser, two additional screw holes 36 are provided at the bottom of the wall 12, which holes are accessible at all times and are therefore not protected.

In all dispensers of this type, it is required that the user tear and remove from its core holder the paper core of the starting roll from which the tissue has been removed before the extra roll can be moved into dispensing position. In the prior art devices this operation has required considerable physical effort on the part of the user to his disadvantage. In the present invention this objection has been overcome by novel and inexpensive means, taking the form of a core-severing member 37 which is attached to the front of the tube 19 at point 38, just below the bottom of the extra roll 17, and extends longitudinally of the tube to the bottom of the starting roll 21 where it terminates in a finger ring 39. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the member 37 takes the form of a small diameter flexible steel wire, or cable, brazed to the tube '19 at the point 38. However, the member 37 could take other forms such as a spring steel knife similarly mounted or recessed in a slot made in the tube 19.

Another objection to the prior art devices of the vertical feed type resides in the fact that the extra roll rides on top of the starting roll and turns with it. This causes fouling of the extra roll in its protective compartment, and further, when the extra roll is dropped into dispens- A roll of tissue vertically supported as on the tube 19,

will, by the force of gravity and the disturbance of vibration or movement of the ambient atmosphere be caused to unwind from the core and wasted. The dispensers commercially, available heretofore overcame this problem by means of a spring-activated arm which applies a slight frictional pressure on the side of the roll,

preventing such unwinding-of the roll of tissue. In contrast thereto, the vpresent invent-ion overcomes the prob lem by means of the bottom wall 18 of the housing 11, which together with the back wall 12. and-side walls 14 and '15, forms an inhibiting mechanical structure which prevents said unwinding, for the floor 18 in particular prevents the forceof gravity from evencausing a gravity feed.

r In the presentinvention a holder 41 formed of spring steel is attached to'the side of the tube '19 at point'42. This holder offers a cam surface 43 to the core of the extra roll of tissue 1-7 which supports the same above the starting roll 21, and in its normal position, a shoulder 43a. to the core of the starting roll 21 which prevents the latter from riding upwardly on the tube 19. The shoulder 43a of'the holder 41extends into a slot 44 cut in the wall of the tube 19, and when it is desired to drop the extra ,roll into dispensing position, the user pulls downwardly on the roll to overcome. the spring tension of holder 41. This, moves the extra roll 17 along the tube 19 until theshoulder 43a is passed into the slot i 44 to a point where the core of the extra roll is cleared to pass over the holder41'and drop into dispensing position. After roll -17 has reached the point where it rests on the support surface .23, the holder 41 returns by spring action to its normal position and the shoulder '43 thereof is so. positioned as to prevent the upward travel of the dispensing roll on the tube 19.

For the convenience of easy servicing, sight holes 45 are opened in the side walls 14 and '1-5 of the compartrnent 16 through which the presence or absence of an extra roll may be observed without the necessity of opening the lid 2.4. These holes 45 arepositioned in the side walls of the compartment rather than the front wall thereof to prevent access to the mounting screws 36 by passing a screwdriver through the sight holes.

From the'foregoing description, the operation of the breeze or the like. If the tissue starts to unwind from a roll thereof when in a dispensing position, the unwinding tissue will contact the floor 18, and due to the frictional resistance offered by this contact, further unwinding of the tissue will be terminated.

Although the present invention is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it is meredispenser is considered to be fully understood. Once it is mounted, the lid 24 to-the compartment 16 is unlocked, opened, and the supply rolls of tissue are dropped into placeover the tube 19, with the first roll being carried to the dispensing position by depressing the holder 41. The extra'rolli1 7 is'then placed on thetube 19 until it rests on the supporting cam surface 43 of the holder 41. Thereafter thel-id 24 is closed to its locked position and the dispenser is conditioned foruse.

Simple instructions for use of the dispenser can be presented on the face of'the compartment 16. These instructions would cover the operational sequence for moving the extra roll-of tissue into dispensing position when the supply. of the first roll is exhausted. Starting with the first step, the paper core of the first roll is severed by drawing upwardly on the ring 39 and then it is removed from the compartment 20. Next, the spring holder 41 is depressed until the core of the extra roll rides over the cam surface 43 and is released, which action permits the extra roll 17 to drop into dispensing position.

While the invention is shown in the drawing filed herein as being vertically positioned, it will be obvious that his adapted totbe horizontally positioned as well, and

the rolls of tissue moved manually to a dispensing .position when the dispenser 'is so positioned. The floor or bottom 18 of the dispenser serves not only to support the core tube 19, but also serves to prevent inadvertent ly illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and I do not mean to be limited to the details of construction herein shown and described, other than as defined in the appended clairnsf I i Iclaim: I V 1. A device for use in storing a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue wrapped on severable cylindrical cores and sequentially permitting the removal of tissue from each of said rolls when moved to a predetermined first position insaid device, comprising:

(a a housing in which a compartment having an open end is provided in which compartment at least one of said rolls can be stored;

(b) a tu e that extends through said housing and proje cts therebeyond a suflicient distance to permit said tube to concurrently support at least one of said rolls in said compartment and rotatably support one of said rolls on a portion of said tube that projects from said housing when disposed in said first position thereon;

(c) first means for maintaining one of said rolls at said tirstpredetermined position on said portion of said tube that projects from said housing; and

(d) second manually operable means .for severing the core of one of saidroll when in said first position and after said toilet tissue has been removed there- ;from.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a movable portion which when in a first position serves tomaintain one of said rolls in said first position and the balance of said rolls in said compartment, but which first means is capable of being moved to a second position, and when in said second position permits one of said rolls in said compartment to he slid on said tube to said first predetermined position after said core that initially occupiedsaid first predetermined position had been removed from said .tube by use of said second means.

'means ,comprises a springloaded member mounted on said roll that at all times tends to project therefrom sufficiently to maintain said rolls in said compartment and one of said rolls in said first predetermined position, which spring-loaded member when force is applied thereto is movable to a second position where one of said rolls can he slid from said compartment to said first predetermined position on said tube. v I

4. A device asde-finedinclaim 1 wherein said Second means includes:

(a) an elongate flexible member that extends at least the length of said first predetermined position on said tube and is disposable within the conlines of one of said cores when disposed in said first predetermined position;

(b) means for afiixing a first end of said elongate member to a portion of said tube adjacent said open endof said compartment; and

(c) ahandle on a second end of said member for moving said member to longitudinally sever one of said .cores when in said first predetermined position and after said paper has been removed therefrom.

5. In .adispenser for rolls of toilet tissue wound on cardboard cores of. the .typeincluding a vertical housing having an upper closed compartment provided with a cover, a lower open-faced compartment having a .floor,

and a hollow tube extending upwardly from said .fioor through said lower and upper compartments, the combination with said tube comprising:

(a) an angular spring, one end portion of which is rigidly connected to the interior surface of said tube, with a downwardly and outwardly extending portion of said spring projecting through a longitudinally extending slot formed in said tube to removably engage the lower end of a core of one of said roll stored in said upper compartment to removably support said roll therein; and

(b) means for longitudinally severing one of said cores on said tube in said lower compartment after removal of said tissue from said core to permit said severed core to be removed from said lower com- |partment and allow said roll in said upper compartment to thereafter drop into said lower compartment for use when said spring is .pressed inwardly sufiiciently relative to said tube to permit said core to move downwardly thereover.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5 wherein said means comprises an elongate member that is so supported firom said tube as to normally occupy a longitudinally extending position relative thereto Within the con lines of the core of that one of said roll disposed in said lower compartment and projecting therebelow, which elongate member when grasped by the lower end and moved upwardly and outwardly passes longitudinally through said core in which it is disposed to sever the same.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 wherein said member comprises a wire.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 728,407 Patterson May 19, 1903 2,510,537 Agamaite June 6, 1950 2,553,389 Steiner et a1. May 15, 1951 2,991,951 Carroll July 11, 1961 3,019,997 Wooster Feb. 6, 1962 

1. A DEVICE FOR USE IN STORING A PLURALITY OF ROLLS OF TOILET TISSUE WRAPPED ON SEVERABLE CYLINDRICAL CORES AND SEQUENTIALLY PERMITTING THE REMOVAL OF TISSUE FROM EACH OF SAID ROLLS WHEN MOVED TO A PREDETERMINED FIRST POSITION IN SAID DEVICE, COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING IN WHICH A COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPEN END IS PROVIDED IN WHICH COMPARTMENT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLERS CAN BE STORED; (B) A TUBE THAT EXTENDS THROUGH SAID HOUSING AND PROJECTS THEREBEYOND A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO PERMIT SAID TUBE TO CONCURRENTLY SUPPORT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLS IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND ROTATABLY SUPPORT ONE OF SAID ROLLS ON A PORTION OF SAID TUBE THAT PROJECTS FROM SAID HOUSING WHEN DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST POSITION THEREON; (C) FIRST MEANS FOR MAINTAINING ONE OF SAID ROLLS AT SAID FIRST PREDETERMINED POSITION ON SAID PORTION OF SAID TUBE THAT PROJECTS FROM SAID HOUSING; AND (D) SECOND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR FIRST POSITION CORE OF ONE OF SAID ROLLS WHEN IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND AFTER SAID TOILET TISSUE HAS BEEN REMOVED THEREFROM. 